Scribd
Upload
1K views4 pages

Thorens-TP16-bearing Clearance-Adjustment

The document provides instructions for adjusting the bearing play on tone arms for Thorens TP16, TP16 MKII, TP16 MKIV, and TP21 turntables. There are three bearings - one at the top of the tone arm and two inside the tone arm boss. To adjust the bearings, a small screwdriver is used to turn the top bearing while gently blowing on the stylus carrier to check for play. The two inner bearings are adjusted using small pliers, also checking for play after each adjustment. Properly adjusting the bearing play reduces distortion at the end of records during playback.

Uploaded by

nemo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views4 pages

Thorens-TP16-bearing Clearance-Adjustment

The document provides instructions for adjusting the bearing play on tone arms for Thorens TP16, TP16 MKII, TP16 MKIV, and TP21 turntables. There are three bearings - one at the top of the tone arm and two inside the tone arm boss. To adjust the bearings, a small screwdriver is used to turn the top bearing while gently blowing on the stylus carrier to check for play. The two inner bearings are adjusted using small pliers, also checking for play after each adjustment. Properly adjusting the bearing play reduces distortion at the end of records during playback.

Uploaded by

nemo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

TONE ARM BEARING ADJUSTMENT

ON THORENS TP16 TONE ARMS

TP 16, TP16 MKII, TP16 MKIV AND TP21 (SEEMS THAT IT HAS THE SAME BEARING)

This kind of adjustment was done because on my Thorens TD160S MKV with the tone
arm TP16MKII I found a play when I tried to move the arm to the disk. This was not really
a problem for me that time, but I alway was wondering and I had no solution why often (not
on all disks, depends may be on the sound level) at the end of the disk the distortion
increased. It was easily to hear with violins and human female voices.

But I could not accept the distortions because often I got the answer "I have now distortion
at the end of the disk or there have no distortion on the last minutes on the disk!"

The last adjustment possibility (after stylus adjustment and leveling of the player) was the
reduction of the bearing play.

The next steps explains where are the bearings, how to make the adjustment, and how
can be the adjustment checked. Have fun!

Where are the bearings?

There are three bearings:

on the top of the tone arm; to see the bearing you have to remove the cap (picture one).
This bearing is necessary for the vertically play of the tone arm (picture two)

Tonearmplay mit Bilder.sxw Page 1 of


4
and left and right in the inner boss of the tone arm (picture three and four); they are
necessary for reduction of torsion play after adjustment of the above mentioned (picture
two) bearing

How can a play be checked?

Very easy........but do it careful it is not an sledge hammer ;-)

Preparation before adjustment:

Tonearmplay mit Bilder.sxw Page 2 of


4
First of all ...you need no hecticness and approximately half of an hour ;-)

Antiskating have to be adjusted to zero,remove the stylus protector and the tone arm have
to be in balance so that he can hover.

First adjustment:

To adjust the bearing you have to use a small turnscrew and turn a little bit to right.

Than blow carefully horizontally to the stylus carrier; lowest air blowing will and have to
move the tonearm; it is important that the arm swings when blowing. This will als work
when you tip the stylus carrier very carefully! But take care because the stylus is
unprotected!!!!

If the tone arm will not swing or move when you have carefully blown to the arm...then the
bearing play is below zero or in other words it is pre-stressed and have to be decreased by

Tonearmplay mit Bilder.sxw Page 3 of


4
turning the bearing to the left. After than you have to check the play again. Normally after
three adjustments and play checks you have found the right adjustment!

Second adjustment:

Then you have to do this adjustments with the two other bearings if there is a remaining
play which you can detect when you try to crew up the tone arm carefully as shown in
picture five. If you find some play the to adjust you have to use a small pliers with
sharpened ends. This two ends have to be placed in the two cavities and than turn
carefully a little bit to right and follow the same way as described above.

Now you have adjusted the play of the tone arm. It is zero and the pre-stressing is zero
too. The optimum for playing vinyl! Before using the player you have to adjust the tracking
force and the anti skating to the same value as before the bearing play adjustment.

Have fun with you "new" tone arm!

Rudi

Tonearmplay mit Bilder.sxw Page 4 of


4

You might also like